JP4891012B2 - Head cleaning method, discharge device - Google Patents

Head cleaning method, discharge device Download PDF

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JP4891012B2
JP4891012B2 JP2006254299A JP2006254299A JP4891012B2 JP 4891012 B2 JP4891012 B2 JP 4891012B2 JP 2006254299 A JP2006254299 A JP 2006254299A JP 2006254299 A JP2006254299 A JP 2006254299A JP 4891012 B2 JP4891012 B2 JP 4891012B2
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discharge
print head
supply tank
discharge liquid
liquid
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JP2008073594A (en
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健太郎 汲田
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Ulvac Inc
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Ulvac Inc
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Description

本発明は吐出液を塗布する技術にかかり、特に、印刷ヘッドのクリーニング方法と、そのクリーニング方法を実施できる吐出装置に関する。   The present invention relates to a technique for applying a discharge liquid, and more particularly to a print head cleaning method and a discharge apparatus capable of performing the cleaning method.

液晶表示装置のカラーフィルター配向膜や、スペーサの塗布の他、有機ＥＬ装置等の有機薄膜を形成する用途にも、インクジェットプリンタ形式の印刷装置が用いられている。   Ink-jet printer type printing apparatuses are used in applications for forming organic thin films such as organic EL devices in addition to color filter alignment films for liquid crystal display devices and spacer coating.

図５(ａ)〜(ｄ)の符号１２０は、インクジェットプリンタ形式の印刷装置の印刷ヘッドを示しており、印刷ヘッド１２０の内部には、吐出液１４５が配置されている。   Reference numeral 120 in FIGS. 5A to 5D denotes a print head of an ink jet printer type printing apparatus, and a discharge liquid 145 is disposed inside the print head 120.

吐出液１４５は、その液面は、吐出孔１２５の開口から所定距離だけ上方に位置するように圧力が制御されているが、部分的に粘度が上昇すると、粘度上昇部分が吐出孔１２５の壁面に付着し、吐出孔１２５を閉塞させてしまう。
同図(ａ)の符号Ａは、粘度が上昇している部分、符号Ｂは正常な部分を示している。 The pressure of the discharge liquid 145 is controlled so that the liquid surface is located a predetermined distance above the opening of the discharge hole 125. However, when the viscosity partially increases, the increased viscosity part is the wall surface of the discharge hole 125. And the discharge hole 125 is blocked.
The symbol A in FIG. 5A indicates a portion where the viscosity is increasing, and the symbol B indicates a normal portion.

この状態のまま、圧電素子に通電しても、同図(ｂ)に示すように、正常な部分Ｂからは液滴１４０が吐出されるが、粘度の高い部分Ａからは液滴１４０は吐出されない。   Even if the piezoelectric element is energized in this state, the droplet 140 is ejected from the normal portion B as shown in FIG. 5B, but the droplet 140 is ejected from the high viscosity portion A. Not.

そこで従来技術では、印刷ヘッド１２０をクリーニング位置まで移動させ、印刷ヘッド１２０の内部を加圧し、吐出孔１２５から吐出液１４５を強制的に吐出させ、粘度の高い部分を印刷ヘッド１２０の外部に廃棄しており、印刷ヘッド１２０の内部が正常圧力に復帰すると、同図(ｄ)に示すように、各吐出孔１２５内部は均一な液面になり、以後は圧電素子によって正常に吐出されるようになる。
特開２００５−２８７５８号公報 Therefore, in the prior art, the print head 120 is moved to the cleaning position, the inside of the print head 120 is pressurized, the discharge liquid 145 is forcibly discharged from the discharge holes 125, and the high viscosity portion is discarded outside the print head 120. When the inside of the print head 120 returns to normal pressure, the inside of each discharge hole 125 becomes a uniform liquid level as shown in FIG. become.
JP 2005-28758 A

しかしながら、上記のクリーニング方法では、高粘度の吐出液によって閉塞された小数の吐出孔を回復させるために、正常な多数の吐出孔からも吐出液が吐出されるため、吐出液が無駄になるという問題がある。特に、高価な有機材料を使用する場合は深刻な問題であり、解決が望まれている。   However, in the above cleaning method, since the discharge liquid is discharged from a large number of normal discharge holes in order to recover a small number of discharge holes that are blocked by the high-viscosity discharge liquid, the discharge liquid is wasted. There's a problem. In particular, when an expensive organic material is used, it is a serious problem and a solution is desired.

上記課題を解決するため、本発明は、複数の吐出孔を有し、内部に配置された吐出液を前記吐出孔から吐出し、印刷対象物表面に前記吐出液の液滴を着弾させる印刷ヘッドをクリーニングするヘッドクリーニング方法であって、前記印刷ヘッドは供給タンクに接続され、前記印刷ヘッドには、前記供給タンクに配置された前記吐出液が供給されるよう構成され、前記印刷ヘッドから吐出液が吐出されない程度に加圧ポンプで前記供給タンク内部の前記吐出液よりも上方の空間の圧力を増加させて前記印刷ヘッド内部の吐出液の圧力を高め、前記各吐出孔の開口よりも外側に前記吐出液を膨らませた後、減圧ポンプで前記供給タンク内部の前記吐出液よりも上方の空間を排気して圧力を減少させ、前記膨らんだ部分の前記吐出液を前記印刷ヘッドの内部に吸引するヘッドクリーニング方法である。
本発明は、定期的に前記吐出液の膨らませ動作と吸引動作を繰り返すヘッドクリーニング方法である。
本発明は、吐出孔を有し、吐出用加圧手段が内部を加圧して吐出液を吐出する印刷ヘッドと、前記吐出用加圧手段とは別に設けられ、前記印刷ヘッド内を加圧する加圧手段と、前記印刷ヘッド内を減圧する減圧手段と、前記印刷ヘッドに接続され、前記印刷ヘッドに前記吐出液を供給する供給タンクとを具備し、前記加圧手段と前記減圧手段は、前記供給タンク内部の前記吐出液よりも上方の空間に接続され、前記加圧手段で前記供給タンク内部を加圧することで前記印刷ヘッド内を加圧して、前記吐出液を前記吐出孔の外側に膨らませ、前記減圧手段で前記供給タンク内部を排気して減圧することで膨らんだ前記吐出液を印刷ヘッド内に引き込む、吐出装置である。
本発明は、前記供給タンクと、前記加圧手段と前記減圧手段との間に切り替えバルブを有する吐出装置である。
In order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention provides a print head that has a plurality of discharge holes, discharges a discharge liquid disposed inside from the discharge holes, and lands droplets of the discharge liquid on the surface of a print object. The print head is connected to a supply tank, the discharge liquid disposed in the supply tank is supplied to the print head, and the discharge liquid is discharged from the print head. The pressure in the space above the discharge liquid inside the supply tank is increased by a pressure pump to such an extent that the pressure is not discharged, thereby increasing the pressure of the discharge liquid inside the print head, and outside the openings of the discharge holes. after inflating the discharge liquid, to reduce the pressure by evacuating the space above the discharge liquid inside the supply tank in a vacuum pump, the printing heads of the ejection liquid of the bulged portion A head cleaning method for suction therein.
The present invention is a head cleaning method that periodically repeats the operation of inflating and sucking the discharged liquid.
The present invention provides a print head having discharge holes and a discharge pressurizing unit that pressurizes the inside and discharges the discharge liquid, and the discharge pressurizing unit is provided separately and pressurizes the inside of the printhead. Pressure means, pressure reducing means for reducing the pressure in the print head, and a supply tank connected to the print head and supplying the discharge liquid to the print head, wherein the pressure means and the pressure reducing means are than the discharge liquid in the supply tank is connected to the space above, pressurizing the inside of the print head by pressurizing the interior of the supply tank by said pressurizing means to inflate the discharge liquid to the outside of the discharge hole The discharge device draws the discharge liquid swelled by exhausting the inside of the supply tank by the pressure reducing means and reducing the pressure, into the print head.
The present invention is a discharge device having a switching valve between the supply tank and the pressurizing unit and the depressurizing unit.

本発明は上記のように構成されており、吐出孔の壁面に密着し、吐出孔を閉塞させる高粘度の部分を、インク供給タンク内を増圧し、印刷ヘッド内の圧力を高めることによって、壁面から引き離し、印刷ヘッドの外部に移動させ、次いで、印刷ヘッドの内部の圧力を減少させ、印刷ヘッドの外部に膨らんだ部分を吸引し、高粘度の部分を印刷ヘッドの内部に移動させると、高粘度の部分は印刷ヘッド内部に充満する多量の吐出液に分散し、高粘度の部分は溶解する。   The present invention is configured as described above, and increases the pressure inside the ink supply tank and increases the pressure inside the print head to increase the pressure inside the ink supply tank by closely adhering to the wall of the ejection hole and closing the ejection hole. And then move it to the outside of the print head, then reduce the pressure inside the print head, suck the swollen part outside the print head, and move the high viscosity part inside the print head. The viscosity portion is dispersed in a large amount of discharge liquid filling the inside of the print head, and the high viscosity portion is dissolved.

吐出液が乾燥して吐出孔付近で粘度が上昇しても、吐出孔が閉塞しない。吐出液を吐出しなくても吐出孔の目詰まりを解消することができるので、吐出液が無駄にならない。   Even if the discharge liquid dries and the viscosity increases in the vicinity of the discharge hole, the discharge hole does not close. Since the clogging of the discharge holes can be eliminated without discharging the discharge liquid, the discharge liquid is not wasted.

図１(ａ)〜(ｄ)の符号１は、本発明の一例の印刷装置を示しており、図１(ａ)は平面図、図１(ｂ)は、図１(ａ)の側面図である。
印刷装置１は、台１１と、台１１上に、台１１の表面とは離間して配置された支持部１２と、支持部１２の台１１に向いた面に配置された印刷ヘッド２０とを有している。 Reference numeral 1 in FIGS. 1A to 1D denotes a printing apparatus according to an example of the present invention. FIG. 1A is a plan view, and FIG. 1B is a side view of FIG. It is.
The printing apparatus 1 includes a table 11, a support unit 12 disposed on the table 11 so as to be separated from the surface of the table 11, and a print head 20 disposed on a surface of the support unit 12 facing the table 11. Have.

図１(ａ)、(ｂ)の符号７は、台１１上の支持部１２の片側位置に配置された印刷対象物を示しており、不図示の移動機構により、印刷対象物７は、図１(ｃ)に示すように、支持部１２と対面する位置を通過しながら、図１(ｄ)に示すように、支持部１２の反対側の位置まで移動できるように構成されている。   Reference numeral 7 in FIGS. 1A and 1B denotes a print object placed on one side of the support portion 12 on the table 11, and the print object 7 is shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 1C, it is configured to be able to move to a position on the opposite side of the support portion 12 as shown in FIG. 1D while passing through a position facing the support portion 12.

印刷ヘッド２０は、インク供給系４０と廃液系６０に接続されている。印刷ヘッド２０は支持部１２に支持された状態で、印刷対象物７の移動方向とは垂直な方向を水平面内で往復移動できるように構成されており、印刷ヘッド２０を移動させながら、インク供給系４０から供給された吐出液を印刷ヘッドから吐出し、印刷対象物７を移動させると、印刷対象物７の所望位置に吐出液を着弾させることができるように構成されている。   The print head 20 is connected to the ink supply system 40 and the waste liquid system 60. The print head 20 is configured to be able to reciprocate in a horizontal plane in a direction perpendicular to the moving direction of the print object 7 while being supported by the support unit 12, and supply ink while moving the print head 20. When the discharge liquid supplied from the system 40 is discharged from the print head and the print object 7 is moved, the discharge liquid can be landed on a desired position of the print object 7.

次に、インク供給系と廃液系を説明する。
図３に示すように、インク供給系４０は、供給タンク４１と、洗浄液タンク４２と、インクタンク４３と、減圧ポンプ４６と、加圧ポンプ４７が設けられている。尚、図３の符号６９は残量センサーを示し、同図の符号６６は液体濃度計を示し、同図の符号６７はそれぞれレギュレーターを示す。 Next, the ink supply system and the waste liquid system will be described.
As shown in FIG. 3, the ink supply system 40 includes a supply tank 41, a cleaning liquid tank 42, an ink tank 43, a decompression pump 46, and a pressurization pump 47. 3 denotes a remaining amount sensor, 66 denotes a liquid concentration meter, and 67 denotes a regulator.

供給タンク４１には、タンク切替装置４８を介して、印刷ヘッド２０と、インクタンク４３と、洗浄液タンク４２が接続されており、タンク切替装置４８を操作することにより、供給タンク４１に対し、印刷ヘッド２０と、インクタンク４３と、洗浄タンク４２のいずれか一台を接続するように構成されている。   A print head 20, an ink tank 43, and a cleaning liquid tank 42 are connected to the supply tank 41 via a tank switching device 48. By operating the tank switching device 48, printing is performed on the supply tank 41. Any one of the head 20, the ink tank 43, and the cleaning tank 42 is connected.

また、供給タンク４１には、ポンプ切替装置４９を介して、減圧ポンプ４６と、加圧ポンプ４７が接続されており、供給タンク４１に対し、減圧ポンプ４６と加圧ポンプ４７のいずれか一台を接続できるように構成されている。   The supply tank 41 is connected to a decompression pump 46 and a pressurization pump 47 via a pump switching device 49. One of the decompression pump 46 and the pressurization pump 47 is connected to the supply tank 41. Is configured to connect.

インクタンク４３中には吐出液４５が配置されており、供給タンク４１に対し、インクタンク４３と減圧ポンプ４６を接続し、減圧ポンプ４６によって供給タンク４１内の上部空間を排気して減圧雰囲気にすると、インクタンク４３中の吐出液４５は供給タンク４１底面の供給口から供給タンク４１内に吸い上げられ、供給タンク４１に吐出液４５が配置される。   A discharge liquid 45 is disposed in the ink tank 43. The ink tank 43 and the decompression pump 46 are connected to the supply tank 41, and the upper space in the supply tank 41 is exhausted by the decompression pump 46 to create a decompressed atmosphere. Then, the discharge liquid 45 in the ink tank 43 is sucked into the supply tank 41 from the supply port on the bottom surface of the supply tank 41, and the discharge liquid 45 is disposed in the supply tank 41.

その状態でタンク切替装置４８を操作し、供給タンク４１に印刷ヘッド２０を接続し、ポンプ切替装置４９を操作して供給タンク４１に加圧ポンプ４７を接続し、加圧ポンプ４７によって、供給タンク４１の上部空間を加圧すると、供給タンク４１内の吐出液４５は印刷ヘッド２０に移動する。   In this state, the tank switching device 48 is operated, the print head 20 is connected to the supply tank 41, the pump switching device 49 is operated, and the pressure pump 47 is connected to the supply tank 41. When the upper space of 41 is pressurized, the discharge liquid 45 in the supply tank 41 moves to the print head 20.

印刷ヘッド２０は、図４(ａ)に示すように、印刷ヘッド２０の底面に複数の吐出孔２５を有している。供給タンク４１の内部が減圧されていない場合、印刷ヘッド２０内部の吐出液４５は、液滴となって吐出孔２５から印刷ヘッド２０の外部に落下し、これによって吐出液４５が排出されるが、印刷ヘッド２０内部に吐出液４５が充満したところで、供給タンク４１を減圧ポンプ４６に接続し、供給タンク４１内を減圧すると、印刷ヘッド２０内部の吐出液４５は落下せず、印刷ヘッド２０内部に保持される。   As shown in FIG. 4A, the print head 20 has a plurality of ejection holes 25 on the bottom surface of the print head 20. When the inside of the supply tank 41 is not depressurized, the discharge liquid 45 inside the print head 20 falls as droplets to the outside of the print head 20 through the discharge holes 25, thereby discharging the discharge liquid 45. When the discharge liquid 45 is filled in the print head 20, the supply tank 41 is connected to the decompression pump 46, and when the supply tank 41 is depressurized, the discharge liquid 45 in the print head 20 does not fall, and the print head 20 Retained.

印刷対象物７が移動する範囲の外側であって、印刷ヘッド２０が到着可能な位置には、トレイが配置されている。図２は、印刷ヘッド２０がトレイ５５上に位置した状態を示している。
印刷ヘッド２０がトレイ５５上に位置する場合、印刷ヘッド２０から排出された吐出液４５はトレイ５５によって受液される。 A tray is arranged outside the range in which the print object 7 moves and at a position where the print head 20 can arrive. FIG. 2 shows a state where the print head 20 is positioned on the tray 55.
When the print head 20 is positioned on the tray 55, the discharge liquid 45 discharged from the print head 20 is received by the tray 55.

廃液系６０には、廃液タンク６１と廃液ポンプ６２が設けられており、弁６３を切り替え、トレイ５５を廃液タンク６１に接続すると、トレイ５５に受液された吐出液４５は、廃液タンク６１に集液される。   The waste liquid system 60 is provided with a waste liquid tank 61 and a waste liquid pump 62. When the valve 63 is switched and the tray 55 is connected to the waste liquid tank 61, the discharge liquid 45 received by the tray 55 is transferred to the waste liquid tank 61. Liquid is collected.

また、印刷ヘッド２０を廃液タンク６１に接続し、供給タンク４１の上部空間を加圧しながら、廃液ポンプ６２によって廃液タンク６１内部の上部空間を排気し、廃液タンク６１内を減圧雰囲気にすると、印刷ヘッド２０内部の吐出液４５を廃液タンク６１に流出させることができる。   In addition, when the print head 20 is connected to the waste liquid tank 61 and the upper space of the supply tank 41 is pressurized, the upper space inside the waste liquid tank 61 is exhausted by the waste liquid pump 62, and the waste liquid tank 61 is brought into a reduced pressure atmosphere. The discharge liquid 45 inside the head 20 can be discharged to the waste liquid tank 61.

供給タンク４１や印刷ヘッド２０内部から吐出液４５を排出した後、吐出液４５に替え、洗浄液を洗浄タンク４２から供給タンク４１に供給し、供給タンク４１から印刷ヘッド２０に供給し、廃液系６０に排出すると、印刷ヘッド２０内部を洗浄することができる。   After the discharge liquid 45 is discharged from the supply tank 41 and the print head 20, it is replaced with the discharge liquid 45, the cleaning liquid is supplied from the cleaning tank 42 to the supply tank 41, supplied from the supply tank 41 to the print head 20, and the waste liquid system 60. When discharged, the inside of the print head 20 can be cleaned.

吐出液４５を印刷対象物７に吐出する際には、印刷ヘッド２０と廃液タンク６１を接続しないでおき、供給タンク４１内部の圧力を制御することにより、図５(ａ)の符号Ｂに示すように、吐出液１４５の液面を吐出孔１２５の開口よりも上部に位置させておく。   When discharging the discharge liquid 45 to the printing object 7, the print head 20 and the waste liquid tank 61 are not connected, and the pressure inside the supply tank 41 is controlled, which is indicated by reference numeral B in FIG. Thus, the liquid level of the discharge liquid 145 is positioned above the opening of the discharge hole 125.

各吐出孔１２５内には、圧電素子が配置されており、所望の吐出孔１２５内の圧電素子に電圧を印加すると、その吐出孔１２５内の開口から図５(ｂ)に示すように、吐出液１４５の液滴を吐出することができる。   A piezoelectric element is disposed in each discharge hole 125, and when a voltage is applied to the piezoelectric element in a desired discharge hole 125, a discharge is generated from the opening in the discharge hole 125 as shown in FIG. A droplet of the liquid 145 can be discharged.

しかし、乾燥などにより、各吐出孔１２５内の液面のうち、一部の吐出孔１２５内の吐出液１４５の粘度が上昇すると、図５(ａ)の符号Ａで示す部分にように、高粘度の部分が吐出孔１２５を閉塞し、その吐出孔１２５からは吐出液１４５が吐出されなくなる。   However, when the viscosity of the discharge liquid 145 in some of the discharge holes 125 increases due to drying or the like in the liquid surface in each of the discharge holes 125, as shown in the part indicated by the symbol A in FIG. The viscosity portion blocks the discharge hole 125, and the discharge liquid 145 is not discharged from the discharge hole 125.

本発明では、印刷ヘッド２０をトレイ５５上に静止させる。
このとき、通常、図４(ａ)に示すように、減圧ポンプ４６によって供給タンク４１内を減圧し、印刷ヘッド２０の符号Ｂで示した正常な吐出孔２５内では液面が上昇するようにしておき、次いで、加圧ポンプ４７に切り替え、図４(ｂ)に示すように、吐出液４５の液面が吐出孔２５の開口よりも外側に広がる程度に供給タンク４１内を加圧する。 In the present invention, the print head 20 is stopped on the tray 55.
At this time, normally, as shown in FIG. 4A, the inside of the supply tank 41 is decompressed by the decompression pump 46 so that the liquid level rises in the normal discharge hole 25 indicated by the symbol B of the print head 20. Then, it is switched to the pressurizing pump 47, and the inside of the supply tank 41 is pressurized to such an extent that the liquid level of the discharge liquid 45 spreads outside the opening of the discharge hole 25 as shown in FIG.

同図(ｂ)の符号Ｃは、吐出孔２５よりも外側に膨出した吐出液４５の部分を示しており、高粘度の部分Ａも他の部分Ｂと一緒に膨らむ。このとき、供給タンク４１内の圧力は、吐出液４５の膨出部分Ｃが印刷ヘッド２０から分離せず、液滴となって落下しない程度に増圧しておき、次いで、供給タンク４１内を減圧ポンプ４６に接続し、減圧し、同図(ｃ)に示すように、膨出部分Ｃを印刷ヘッド２０内に吸引する。吐出孔２５内を閉塞させていた高粘度の部分Ａは、増圧によって一旦印刷ヘッド２０の外部に移動され、吐出孔２５壁面との密着が解消されて、吸引によって印刷ヘッド２０の内部に移動される。
ここでは膨出時には、供給タンク４１内部は印刷時よりも５〜５０ｋＰａ増圧した。吸引時は５ｋＰａ減圧した。 Reference numeral C in FIG. 6B shows a portion of the discharge liquid 45 bulging outward from the discharge holes 25, and the high-viscosity portion A swells together with the other portions B. At this time, the pressure in the supply tank 41 is increased so that the bulging portion C of the discharge liquid 45 does not separate from the print head 20 and does not fall as a droplet, and then the pressure in the supply tank 41 is reduced. Connected to the pump 46 and decompressed, the bulging portion C is sucked into the print head 20 as shown in FIG. The high-viscosity portion A that has closed the inside of the discharge hole 25 is once moved to the outside of the print head 20 by the pressure increase, the adhesion with the wall surface of the discharge hole 25 is eliminated, and moved to the inside of the print head 20 by suction. Is done.
Here, at the time of swelling, the inside of the supply tank 41 was increased by 5 to 50 kPa than at the time of printing. During suction, the pressure was reduced by 5 kPa.

供給タンク４１内を最初の状態の圧力(圧電素子によって吐出可能な状態の圧力)に戻したときには、同図(ｄ)に示すように、閉塞状態が解消され、高粘度の部分Ａを有する吐出孔２５の液面も、他の部分Ｂと同じ液面高さになる。高粘度の部分は印刷ヘッド２０内部に充満する多量の吐出液４５に分散し、高粘度の部分Ａは溶解する。   When the inside of the supply tank 41 is returned to the initial pressure (pressure capable of being discharged by the piezoelectric element), the closed state is eliminated and the discharge having the highly viscous portion A as shown in FIG. The liquid level of the hole 25 is also the same as that of the other part B. The high viscosity portion is dispersed in a large amount of the discharge liquid 45 filling the inside of the print head 20, and the high viscosity portion A is dissolved.

吐出液４５を吐出し、高粘度の部分Ａを印刷ヘッド２０から排出する場合は、正常な吐出孔２５からも不良でない吐出液４５が吐出されてしまうが、本発明では、そのような無駄が生じない。
クリーニング後、吐出孔２５の吐出状態をカメラで検出する等により、正常な吐出状態への復帰が確認されたら、印刷対象物７への吐出を開始する。 When the discharge liquid 45 is discharged and the high-viscosity portion A is discharged from the print head 20, a non-defective discharge liquid 45 is discharged from the normal discharge holes 25. In the present invention, such waste is not caused. Does not occur.
After the cleaning, when the discharge state of the discharge hole 25 is detected by a camera or the like and the return to the normal discharge state is confirmed, the discharge to the printing object 7 is started.

なお、本発明に用いることができる吐出液４５は、液晶表示装置のカラーフィルターの原料となる顔料が分散した顔料分散液、液晶表示装置の配向膜の原料となる有機樹脂が溶解した樹脂溶液、液晶表示装置のスペーサが液体中に分散されたスペーサ分散液、有機ＥＬ表示装置の有機発光層の原料となる樹脂溶液を用いることができる。   The discharge liquid 45 that can be used in the present invention is a pigment dispersion in which a pigment that is a raw material of a color filter of a liquid crystal display device is dispersed, a resin solution in which an organic resin that is a raw material of an alignment film of a liquid crystal display device is dissolved, A spacer dispersion liquid in which spacers of a liquid crystal display device are dispersed in a liquid, or a resin solution that is a raw material for an organic light emitting layer of an organic EL display device can be used.

なお、上記は供給タンク４１の内部圧力を増減することで、吐出液４５の膨出と吸引を行なったが、供給タンク４１の高さを変えても、吐出液４５の吐出孔２５からの膨出と吸引を行なうことができる。
膨出させる場合、供給タンク４１を上方に移動させ、吸引する場合、供給タンク４１を下方に移動させればよい。 In the above description, the discharge liquid 45 is swelled and sucked by increasing or decreasing the internal pressure of the supply tank 41. However, even if the height of the supply tank 41 is changed, the discharge liquid 45 is expanded from the discharge hole 25. You can take out and suck.
In the case of bulging, the supply tank 41 is moved upward, and in the case of suction, the supply tank 41 may be moved downward.

本発明の印刷装置は、一ロットの印刷対象物に印刷を行なっている間、一枚の印刷対象物への吐出液の吐出が終了した後、次の印刷対象物への吐出液の吐出を開始する前に行なうことができる。   The printing apparatus of the present invention discharges the discharge liquid to the next print object after the discharge of the discharge liquid to one print object is completed while printing on the print object of one lot. Can be done before starting.

また、一ロットの印刷対象物への吐出液の吐出が終了した後、次のロットの印刷対象物への吐出液の吐出を開始するまでの間は、吐出液を吐出しない待機期間であるので、この待機期間の間、本発明のヘッドクリーニング方法を一定間隔で繰り返し実行し、粘度が上昇しないようにすることができる。例えば、待機期間の間、数十秒〜数分間に一回の割合で行なうことができる。   In addition, there is a standby period in which the discharge liquid is not discharged after the discharge of the discharge liquid to the printing object of one lot is completed until the discharge of the discharge liquid to the printing object of the next lot is started. During this waiting period, the head cleaning method of the present invention can be repeatedly executed at regular intervals so that the viscosity does not increase. For example, it can be performed once every several tens of seconds to several minutes during the standby period.

（ａ）：本発明に用いる印刷装置を説明する平面図、（ｂ）〜（ｄ）：印刷対象物を移動させる工程を説明する側面図(A): Plan view for explaining a printing apparatus used in the present invention, (b) to (d): Side view for explaining a step of moving a printing object. 印刷ヘッドをトレイ上に配置した状態を説明する平面図Plan view for explaining a state in which the print head is arranged on the tray 印刷ヘッドと、インク供給系と、廃液系との関係を説明する模式図Schematic diagram explaining the relationship between the print head, ink supply system, and waste liquid system （ａ）〜（ｄ）：本発明のヘッドクリーニング工程を説明する断面図(A)-(d): Sectional drawing explaining the head cleaning process of this invention （ａ）〜（ｄ）：従来技術のヘッドクリーニング工程を説明する断面図(A)-(d): Sectional drawing explaining the head cleaning process of a prior art

符号の説明Explanation of symbols

１……印刷装置 ７……印刷対象物 ２０……印刷ヘッド ２５……吐出孔 ４１……供給タンク ４５……吐出液   DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Printing apparatus 7 ... Print target object 20 ... Print head 25 ... Discharge hole 41 ... Supply tank 45 ... Discharge liquid

Claims (4)

複数の吐出孔を有し、内部に配置された吐出液を前記吐出孔から吐出し、印刷対象物表面に前記吐出液の液滴を着弾させる印刷ヘッドをクリーニングするヘッドクリーニング方法であって、
前記印刷ヘッドは供給タンクに接続され、前記印刷ヘッドには、前記供給タンクに配置された前記吐出液が供給されるよう構成され、
前記印刷ヘッドから吐出液が吐出されない程度に加圧ポンプで前記供給タンク内部の前記吐出液よりも上方の空間の圧力を増加させて前記印刷ヘッド内部の吐出液の圧力を高め、前記各吐出孔の開口よりも外側に前記吐出液を膨らませた後、減圧ポンプで前記供給タンク内部の前記吐出液よりも上方の空間を排気して圧力を減少させ、前記膨らんだ部分の前記吐出液を前記印刷ヘッドの内部に吸引するヘッドクリーニング方法。 A head cleaning method for cleaning a print head having a plurality of discharge holes, discharging a discharge liquid disposed inside from the discharge holes, and landing droplets of the discharge liquid on the surface of a print object,
The print head is connected to a supply tank, and the print head is configured to be supplied with the discharge liquid disposed in the supply tank.
The pressure in the space above the discharge liquid inside the supply tank is increased by a pressure pump so that the discharge liquid is not discharged from the print head to increase the pressure of the discharge liquid inside the print head, and each discharge hole The discharge liquid is inflated outside the opening, and then the space above the discharge liquid inside the supply tank is exhausted by a decompression pump to reduce the pressure, and the discharge liquid in the swollen portion is printed in the printing A head cleaning method that sucks into the head. 定期的に前記吐出液の膨らませ動作と吸引動作を繰り返す請求項１記載のヘッドクリーニング方法。 Head cleaning method according to claim 1, wherein repeating the sucking operation as inflating a periodically the discharge liquid. 吐出孔を有し、吐出用加圧手段が内部を加圧して吐出液を吐出する印刷ヘッドと、
前記吐出用加圧手段とは別に設けられ、前記印刷ヘッド内を加圧する加圧手段と、
前記印刷ヘッド内を減圧する減圧手段と、
前記印刷ヘッドに接続され、前記印刷ヘッドに前記吐出液を供給する供給タンクとを具備し、
前記加圧手段と前記減圧手段は、前記供給タンク内部の前記吐出液よりも上方の空間に接続され、
前記加圧手段で前記供給タンク内部を加圧することで前記印刷ヘッド内を加圧して、前記吐出液を前記吐出孔の外側に膨らませ、前記減圧手段で前記供給タンク内部を排気して減圧することで膨らんだ前記吐出液を印刷ヘッド内に引き込む、
吐出装置。 A print head having discharge holes, and a discharge pressurizing means pressurizing the inside to discharge the discharge liquid;
A pressurizing unit provided separately from the discharge pressurizing unit and pressurizing the inside of the print head;
Decompression means for decompressing the inside of the print head ;
A supply tank connected to the print head and supplying the discharge liquid to the print head ;
The pressurizing unit and the depressurizing unit are connected to a space above the discharge liquid inside the supply tank,
Pressurizing the inside of the supply tank by pressurizing the inside of the supply tank by the pressurizing means, inflating the discharge liquid to the outside of the discharge holes, and exhausting the inside of the supply tank by the decompression means to reduce the pressure. the discharge liquid drawn into the print head bulging in,
Discharge device. 前記供給タンクと、前記加圧手段と前記減圧手段との間に切り替えバルブを有する請求項３に記載の吐出装置。 The discharge device according to claim 3 , further comprising a switching valve between the supply tank , the pressurizing unit, and the decompressing unit.
JP2006254299A 2006-09-20 2006-09-20 Head cleaning method, discharge device Expired - Fee Related JP4891012B2 (en)

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